Oakland Raiders: 4 Bold predictions vs. Bears, Week 5
By Steve Rivera
The 2-2 Oakland Raiders host the 3-1 Chicago Bears in London. The Week 5 matchup is a critical game for a Jon Gruden team with a tough October schedule still to come.
The Oakland Raiders “host” the 3-1 Chicago Bears in a Week 5 matchup in London. The game will be played at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. This is, as any home fan would guess, a lousy deal for whichever team is hosting the game. For Oakland, their last season in the East Bay is also one with one less home gate for Raiders fans.
As for the game, it’ll be an interesting matchup as the Raiders are beginning to get used to life without linebacker Vontaze Burfict. Burfict is looking at a season-long suspension after an unnecessary hit on Indianapolis Colts tight end Jack Doyle and will have his appeal heard on October 8.
It will also be the first time Khalil Mack faces his former team. Mack was traded last offseason to Chicago, and according to media reports, it’s a game the former Raiders defensive end has been looking forward to.
This is a critical game for Oakland. At 2-2 and now looking drastically different from the team many had envisioned, it’s as close to a must-win as you can get in early October.
The Raiders will have a bye week after the London trip, then close out the first half of their schedule with two back to back road games at the Green Bay Packers and Houston Texans. A loss in London suddenly presents the possibility of a 2-5 record to close out October.